Why should we care about the employee experience? Are your team members satisfied? Best Workplace technology to improve your experience. Many leaders and C-suite executives wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. But, shouldn’t employees be more than satisfied? White-collar workers perform best when they are happy, challenged, and feel like their work matters. Those that describe their current role as satisfactory are essentially saying that their job is fine, it pays the bills, but they would probably leave if they found a new opportunity. Management can’t force anyone to love their job, but they can take actionable steps to change their employees’ work experience.

Why should we care about the employee experience?

Employers want their employees to be happy, but they don’t always understand their staff’s day-to-day experiences. As a result, management may think that they have created a supportive, comfortable Workplace technology, but in reality, there is a lot of room for improvement. Often, when employees struggle with performance, it’s not because they are bad at their jobs. Rather, other external factors may be creating challenges for them. Those issues can include:

• Lack of tools, resources or support
• Misunderstanding of company’s vision
• Absence of measurable performance goals
• Inadequate job or skills training
• Insufficient opportunities for development
• Few opportunities to collaborate
• Conflict between team members

Enhancing the employee experience is great for your staff. But, it’s great for your company, too. When team members are motivated to perform at their best, that helps the organization accomplish its goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. The success of any company relies heavily upon its employees’ performance; when employees are productive, engaged, and motivated, they’re much more likely to meet targets and contribute new ideas. An employee-friendly work environment leads to increased productivity and innovation, improved employee retention levels, and happy staff who feel comfortable inviting top talent to join the team.

Using tech for positive changes

There are many things that employers should consider when thinking about the employee experience. For beginners, they can ask their staff how they feel. This could be done through an anonymous survey so that they receive honest answers. Then, there are policies, procedures, and values that should be reviewed. How easily can staff communicate with you and each other? What is the corporate culture like? What options do employees have when it comes to flexible work? Is the work environment accommodating? Finally, workplace technology can provide some very simple but powerful solutions for improving the employee experience.

Wayfinding tools

Staff should never have to spend more than a couple of minutes looking for a space to work. But it can take longer if your company has implemented agile workspaces with unassigned seating. Staff might struggle to find the right spot (especially on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays). A wayfinding system with real-time intelligence can tell your entire team which spaces are currently in use and which spots are available. All they need to do is open an app on their smartphone before they enter the office. The same technology can be used to find other people in the workplace, encouraging collaboration and teamwork.

Connectivity at work and at home

People want flexibility and are expecting that companies will trust them to work when, where, and how they need to. As such, management should ensure that staff can connect with workplace technology from anywhere. Remote connectivity is essential, but it’s just as important to make sure there is consistent, high-quality connectivity in the office, too. Zoom meetings aren’t going anywhere, and staff should be able to perform all components of their jobs in the office and at home. Similarly, companies should think about communication platforms that will keep everyone in the loop. Office Control, for example, has an announcements section that gives admins the ability to send out messages and updates in seconds. Management can share information with select teams, or the entire company. All communication can be sent and reviewed using the app and a smartphone.

Smart parking

Parking is a scarce commodity and can be a frustrating problem for employees. They may be late for an important meeting because they couldn’t find a spot. No one will want to come to the office if this is a routine experience. The good news is that there are software systems that give staff the option to pre-book a parking space. Pre-payment could also be an option if staff is required to cover a monthly parking fee. It may even be possible to have a spot pre-assigned to you so that you know exactly where to go when you get to work. Talk about efficiency.

Biometric security

Biometric security is still a bit controversial, but the technology offers a new level of security and convenience. Instead of swiping a card, staff can use facial recognition, a fingerprint or handprint, or even voice recognition. This benefits organization because a positive user experience reduces security risks and offers a competitive advantage.

Kitchen appliances

While coffee machines, fridges, and microwaves aren’t huge office perks, they do make a difference. Staff doesn’t have to wait in long lines or buy lunch every day if there are appliances that will make coffee and preserve their food for them. That also means they save a few dollars when they come into the office. These small additions make a big difference.

Workstations designed for collaboration

Boardrooms are often equipped with good virtual meeting Workplace technology, but individual workstations and smaller workrooms now need that equipment. Make meeting technology readily available for impromptu brainstorming sessions or team huddles. Meeting technology is becoming a must-have for hybrid work environments.

Sensors for temperature and light

There have been times where the lights suddenly go out on staff who are working late. The lights are automated and are scheduled to shut down during off-hours. There have also been instances where staff are all in coats because the office is far too cold. Both of these situations lower productivity and motivation. However, sensors can do a lot to prevent these situations from occurring. Lighting sensors ensure the lights come on when movement is detected. They help save energy while still providing light whenever it is needed. Temperature sensors don’t necessarily measure the temperature in the room (though there are ones that can do that). They can tell how many people are in a space at any given time. If there are fewer or more people than usual, the sensor will work with the HVAC system and adjust the heat as necessary.

Conclusion

Implementing workplace technology can be one of the most successful strategies when it comes to improving the employee experience. The most successful tech items are easy to use, and they make things easier for the users. In addition to integrating workplace technology, employers are encouraged to take steps to remove obstacles, inefficient processes, and distractions that get in the way of work performance. Communication is often one of the biggest challenges that frustrate staff. Be more transparent, when possible. Discuss company values and objectives, and give employees the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask your team for honest feedback. If you’re unaware of the problems in the workplace, then there’s no way for you to change them. Starting these tough conversations let staff know that you do care about them. And people who feel valued are more likely to stay loyal to your company.